p1. Starting with the end as of now...
Raising a child with a mental illness has been an adventure in the unkown, but a lesson in advocacy.
I could start (and will eventually mention) with the early days, but for now our concentration is getting our child into adulthood and not losing her in a violent way. She is 19, and we no longer have control over her medical attention. Which means basically she has gone without a doctor or meds for a over a year sending her into a huge state of Mania. She is Bipolar, she is smart, she is cute, she is funny, she is talented, she is in the criminal justice system after trying to make it just one year alone.
It is tragic for parents to take a back seat and watch the downward spiral of what they know is to come when a Bipolar person goes unmedicated for a year and turns to a life of socially unacceptable behavior, self medication and the feeling of grandiose (sp?) which can lead no where, except to trouble.
This can be a lonely place for parents to come from. It is often misunderstood. "Wow, didn't they teach that kid some morals?", "That kids a loser, why didn't they make her stay in college?", "I don't want that kid around my kids!"
Well, neither do we.
I could start (and will eventually mention) with the early days, but for now our concentration is getting our child into adulthood and not losing her in a violent way. She is 19, and we no longer have control over her medical attention. Which means basically she has gone without a doctor or meds for a over a year sending her into a huge state of Mania. She is Bipolar, she is smart, she is cute, she is funny, she is talented, she is in the criminal justice system after trying to make it just one year alone.
It is tragic for parents to take a back seat and watch the downward spiral of what they know is to come when a Bipolar person goes unmedicated for a year and turns to a life of socially unacceptable behavior, self medication and the feeling of grandiose (sp?) which can lead no where, except to trouble.
This can be a lonely place for parents to come from. It is often misunderstood. "Wow, didn't they teach that kid some morals?", "That kids a loser, why didn't they make her stay in college?", "I don't want that kid around my kids!"
Well, neither do we.
posted by ewschott at Monday, September 13, 2004
2 Comments:
Although my child doesn't have the same diagnosis, I know all of those feelings. It's awful to have "society" judge a parent by a child's behavior, even when we've done everything "right".
xo,
Holly
My daughter was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of six. This is what I'm worried about. Her biological father has bipolar and is unmedicated. He's a mess and I fear that as soon as she grows up she will end up like him. I'd like to talk with you. Email me at pinkpixielove@yahoo.com
Post a Comment
<< Home